Bay State welfare recipients wolfed down $44,000 worth of Big Macs, Happy Meals and Chicken McNuggets last year in a debit card spending spree that flies in the face of first lady Michelle Obama’s healthy eating crusade.

“It drives me crazy,” said state Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth) of the Mickey D’s spending. “From a nutritional standpoint, it’s a very poor bang for the buck, and it compounds childhood obesity and the national obesity problem we have.”

Obama kicked off her “Let’s Move” initiative a year ago and has strongly supported creating healthier meals stocked with vegetables and whole grains for children and adults.

Hedlund — who recently criticized the first lady for stocking her Super Bowl party with spicy wings and artery-clogging bratwurst — said he supports her push to make meals healthier and hopes her message will trickle down to welfare families.

“Food stamps are being used on some things that are not healthy — total junk food,” Hedlund said.

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo vowed yesterday to crack down on state welfare abuse in response to a Herald review that found that recipients used their electronic benefits debit cards to blow about $200,000 in taxpayer money on nonessentials such as liquor, lingerie and pets.

Jennifer Kritz, spokeswoman for the state welfare program, pointed out that a large percentage of the spending was at supermarkets.

But she said Gov. Deval Patrick would support a GOP-backed bill making it illegal for business owners and welfare recipients to knowingly use or take money for booze and butts.

Said state Rep. Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton), who authored that bill: “Whether it’s spending at McDonald’s, the movies, or bars, it’s obvious that these cards are being used for unnecessary expenses and things that people don’t need to live.”